Joshua Omoloye, Politics Editor, Abuja
Two days to the Council election into six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Tuesday met with an enlarged stakeholders on preparations for the Saturday, February 12 poll.
Fourteen of the 18 registered political parties at the event signed peace accord assuring of crisis free and credible election.
No fewer than 473 candidates, comprising 110 (chairman and vice chairman) and 363 flag bearers are contesting for the six chairmanship and 62 councillors positions in 2,822 polling units of Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abuja Municipal area councils.
INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu in his address assured that security personnel will provide escort to the Area Councils and protection of the materials until they reach the polling units on election day, been Saturday.
He diclosed that sensitive materials for the election will be delivered by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the Commission’s FCT Office in Garki, Abuja on Thursday.
Yakubu said party agents, observers and the media will be invited to inspect the materials before they will be moved to the Area Councils on the same day, adding that al non-sensitive materials have already been delivered to the Area Councils.
The INEC Chairman further informed that INEC is deploying six Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to support the REC for the FCT and three National Commissioners to supervise the conduct of the election.
“With only four days to the election, most of the major activities have been carried out. Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) was conducted over a period of six months. Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) have been printed and made available for collection. There are enough ad hoc staff engaged and trained for the election.
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Assuring of a secured poll, the Usman Usman Alkali-Baba, the Inspector General of Police, said the Force will deploy tactical units drawn from the Mobile Police Force, Special Forces, Counter terrorism and Senior Officers from the Force Headquarter to provide security and monitor the election.
The Inspector General, represented by Benneth Idigwu also said Police as the lead election security agency has been working in synergy with other security operatives to provide the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the FCT area council polls.
“security of electoral process rests squarely with the security agencies led by the Nigeria Police Force. On the part of the Nigeria Police, efforts have been made to ensure a peaceful election.
“We shall equally engage in convoy patrol with other security agencies to ensure the protection of INEC infrastructure in all the area councils.
“We will conduct stop and search operations at strategic locations as well as other key and vulnerable points. We shall continue to conduct raids on suspected criminal hideouts.
“There shall be deployment of additional conventional personnel from contagious states of Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa and Kaduna and then ensure the deployment of additional logistics to support the FCT Command,” he assured.
Stakeholders at the event expressed satisfaction with preparation by INEC at the national level and the FCT offices.
Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mohammed Bello who appreciated the leadership of INEC for improving the nation’s democratic process.
He said INEC under the chairmanship of Prof. Yakubu has particularly strengthen Nigeria’s participatory democracy with the deployment of technology and putting in place other good governance processes.
Promising to provided needed logistics to ensure that Saturday’s election is a huge success, the minister said “on our own part in FCT administration, we will continue to support INEC in improving participatory democracy”.
Chairperson, Nigerian Marketmen and Women Association, FCT, Madam Felicia Sanni said “INEC has contributed immensely to the growth and emancipation of Nigerian polity and economy. INEC has contributed to recruitment process of leaders at all level”.
Madam Sanni said people in the FCT desire free, credible and safe election. She charged all political parties and their candidates to shun violence at the poll.
“There must be life after election”, she warned, while calling on Nigerians above the age of 18 years to register with INEC and get their PVCs to be able to effect change in governance.
Chairman, YIAGA, Samson Itodo called on the FCT minister to impress upon President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Bill waiting his assent.
He said “we need the Electoral Bill assented to by the President. President Muhammadu Buhari, by doing so, he would have added credibility to Nigerian election”.
For the poll, he urged INEC to ensure: deployment of material and personnel on time, to open polling stations on time and mobilize security personnel to ensure secured poll.
Corroborating Itodo, the President, Albino Foundation, Jake Ekpelle said “assenting the Electoral Bill is one of the most critical political assignment President Buhari has to do”.
He rated INEC as one of the most inclusive organisations in the country.
Ekpelle expressed confidence that there will be free and credible election in the FCT on Saturday.
Chairman, Inter- Party Advisory Council, Alhaji Abdulrahman Ndagi said the goal of the body is credible and transparent election in FCT.
He commended Prof. Yakubu for sorting the Resident Electoral Commissioner in FCT, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who has smooth relationship with IPAC .
The council demanded from the FCT minister, a robust relationship
The FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner in his welcome address said the Commission in FCT has been collaborating with FCT administration adding that the minister has been making facilities and other logistics available to INEC .
While commending all stakeholders for adequate preparation for the poll, the REC assured residents of safety and credibility of the process on Saturday.
Meanwhile, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said that the FCT election should be a referendum in the country.
The former Vice President noted that the people of the FCT, with their closeness to the seat of power, represent a good sampling of Nigerians about the current government and, therefore, should use “their ballot to tell the APC government how its administration has made life difficult for the common man.”
“The records of performance between the PDP and APC administrations should provide a guide for the way the people of the FCT should cast their ballot on Saturday. I expect every member of the PDP to be proud of the party at this election and even mobilize their families and friends to vote for PDP’s candidates across all the FCT councils on Saturday,” Atiku said.
The 2019 presidential candidate of the PDP also called on all the officials including security agents who will be involved in the conduct of the FCT election to ensure that it is conducted in line with all relevant provisions that will make the process hitch-free and credible.
